ALLEN PARK – Amani Oruwariye spent the offseason snooping movie and studied the playbook. He said he sees the game better through the first few practices, and Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia agrees.
Oruwariye was a fifth round out of Penn State last year. However, he appeared in nine games, and only got three games really around the corner. He made an impression against Kirk Cousins and the Vikings after he got early. Oruwariye also made impressive interceptions in Washington and in the final against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
‘I mean, to be honest, Amani has done a great job getting in and just recording where I think he’s stopping. Physically he has some great tools. He’s fast. He’s tall. He can play physically, “Patricia said after the first practice day on Monday.” Sure, I think he was trying to learn. It was a bit of a different coverage scheme, I would say from what he had in college to what we attended to do, and get out and get a little more aggressive on the line of scrimmage.That, when he went through that last year, I think at the end of the year, when he had those chances, he made what really good plays.
‘I just feel like he’s on the field, you know of course the first day of pads it was a little bit different, but his movement skills are really good, and I think he’s maybe playing the game a little bit in his vision. I think when you come as a corner, as a young corner, it’s very narrow. You are very busy with your tuning, your matchup, your boy, your player, your coverage. And then when the corners go down, because they’re so nice on an island out there, the more comfortable they get, they actually start looking at the rest of the field. It’s just a very different position. It’s how you see the field. You see it outside. Most of the players on the field see it from the inside out. And I think he started to do that a little bit more and have a little bit more awareness about what’s going on around him, which will hopefully make him faster and put him in a position to make more plays. “
Related: Observations: Jeff Okudah works with backups from Lions on the first day of padded practice
Oruwariye reiterated Patricia’s comments about what has changed from year 1 to 2. Instead of worrying about where to turn or writing, the young corner said he was over and able to focus on the task.
‘Comes like a rookie, it’s just like even a freshman in college. It’s all new, ”Oruwariye told Zoom on Thursday. ‘The speed of the game is faster, so you are just worried about making sure you are in the right position and not messaging. And now, all that sort of thing has passed me by. That stuff is easy. Next year 2 it’s going a lot slower. Everything is slower. The game is slower. I can focus on other things that will help me grow as a corner instead of just standing up and being in the right position, afraid of not screaming – I’m past that and I’m more focused on just competing every day in practice and trying to get better. “
The work has so far been shown in practice. Oruwariye has partnered with the starters, with third overall pick Jeff Okudah taking it slow the first week. Oruwariye came on the COVID reserve list to open camp, but said he feels good and healthy before rushing on to the next question. ESPN recently garnered some praise by naming him one of its top 25 breakout candidates by the end of July.
When asked about the start, Oruwariye used the question as follows: ‘Nothing has been set in stone. We are on day 3 of camp. “That’s probably a smart move to take with Okudah, who is expected to start alongside Desmond Trufant and Justin Coleman.
Okudah has been working with the reserves especially early on, and it is obvious that coaches are taking it to board process slowly.
‘He does a great job. He’s a technician. You can just tell, they prepared him well for college, ‘said Oruwariye of the rookie. “He asks a lot of questions, which is good. Come in, corner is a hard position to get into and really immediately take over and flourish at your highest level. That’s why we go out there every day and learn and practice. I told him, ‘all the questions you need to ask me.’ We’ll be watching some movies together, and he’s just going to ask me little things, everything. I’ll make sure I’m a source for him / her. ”
Related: Practicing observations: Rookie WR Quintez Cephus is also having a great day
The Lions defense will look much different this season, and for good reason. Detroit was able to allow the most passing yards in the league, while generating the second-least sacks and the least pass-rush winning streak in the NFL. Former All-Pro cornerback Darius Slay was traded to Philadelphia, and the Lions added Darryl Roberts, Trufant and Okudah in the aftermath.
Trufant is no slouch like a former Pro Bowler as an insecure attacker and naughty defender in man coverage. Oruwariye shuddered at the chance to learn from guys like Slay and Trufant despite his first two seasons. The corner of the second year said what stands out most about Trufant is how the veteran practices.
“Not that I do not already know how to go hard in practice, but just to see him in the level he is at, and the year he is in,” Oruwariye said. “Just about every rep goes on, he takes it like it’s a Super Bowl rep. I admire that, and I try to take care of it and make sure I get to work every day the way he is. “
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